Special Limited Run Tokai LS Models

[Sigmania]

We have seen a few limited run Tokai LS guitars recently.

Just hoping to form a list of known limited run guitars.

Current list:

Dear Rock
Golden Era
Guitar Universe
Hibiki
Neo Select
Pacifix
Reborn Old
Retrospec (aftermarket relic)
Rockin' Japan

 

[Sigmania]

Guitar Universe

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26467

 

[Sigmania]

Wraparound Bridge Gold top '54s (R4s)

Including:
Reborn Old LS-1 R4
Love Rock LS-2 R4
Reborn Old Rounded headstock
Love Rock LS176 S

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26573

 

[Sigmania]

"Reborn Old"


http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26577&p=199592#p199592


Seems like they are limited run special orders made for dealers using the “Reborn Old” name and script from 1980.

Possibly began as a special order line as early as 2010 with a modified or "tombstone" headstock made for the German market.

Later runs, like the one in 2014 for Rockin Japan, had the open book headstock.

And I have found one example with an export dimple headstock from 2015.

Image showing Reborn Olds from 1980, 2010, & 2014 (L-R).

Early examples seemed to be plain or gold tops with the Tombstone headstock (Faber?), but by 2014 you start seeing flame tops with open book headstocks (Rockin Japan).

In fact, by 2016 many examples have insanely figured solid maple tops and some had jacaranda fret boards (Rockin Japan JFB model). And the Hibiki HLS LTD 5A in 2019 is an exceptional guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

Hibiki

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26299&p=198303&hilit=hibiki#p198303

 

[Sigmania]

Hibiki + Reborn Old

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26297

 

[Paladin2019]

In the early 00s there were two UK runs, around 24 instruments total, where Tokai bodies were sent to the UK and given custom hardware/electronics and a relic finish.

 

[Sigmania]

Oh cool. Were those posted on here?

Would love to see pictures. Links. 8)

 

[Sigmania]

Cool! Think I found them.

UK limited run post production relics stretching over several years beginning with a Les Paul Reborn “Retrospec” in 2001.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3604&highlight=retrospec

The relics were LS70F's that were sent to the UK, refinished in nitro and given new hardware/electronics by an independant relic'ing agent.

There were 12 made in 2002 and another 12 in 2003 - apparently there were 'retrospecs' before that and there may have been some made in 2004.

 

[Sigmania]

Les Paul Reborn Retrospec

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=3604&highlight=retrospec

 

[Sigmania]

Neo Select

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24577

https://reverb.com/item/44639543-tokai-neo-select-lp-09-21

 

[Sigmania]

Add "Dear Rock"

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26167&p=200284#p200284

 

[felixcatus]

Weren't there some "Golden Era Re-issue" Tokais too?

 

[luis]

Pacifix (2006)
Hibiki (2009)
There was another well know japanese guitarshop I got a special LS from in 2007, he had those ES with block inlays too..... special runs

 

[Sigmania]

Weren't there some "Golden Era Re-issue" Tokais too?

Good one. Do you know when these were made? I don't know much about them.

I am remembering a different mfr (Bison) making one with a very similar logo and name.

Doweled like a Nagano Tokai or Greco.

http://japaneseguitars.blogspot.com/2014/12/bison-golden-era-reissue-mystery.html

Here is one with the tombstone headstock that the Reborn Old from around 2010 had.

It looks like the serial number is from 1980?? That would be the year of the Reborn Old line.

Interesting parallel with that date and the later version of the Reborn Old from 2010.

https://reverb.com/item/1705219-tokai-golden-era-re-issue-1980-2-color-sunburst

 

[Sigmania]

2010 LS-2 Reborn Old

Same headstock as the 1980 (?) Golden Era guitar linked above. Same year as the original Reborn Old line...

https://www.vintage-guitar.de/detailsitem_4081_Tokai-LS-2-Reborn-old.html

 

[Sigmania]

Pacifix (2006)
Hibiki (2009)
There was another well know japanese guitarshop I got a special LS from in 2007, he had those ES with block inlays too..... special runs

Thanks luis!

Looks like there were more Hibiki runs.

http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26299&p=199622&hilit=hibiki#p199622

I will look for Pacifix. Thank you!

 

[Sigmania]

Pacifix! Thanks luis!

wulfman's "Pacifix Exclusive" LS7 Goldtop

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wulfh/albums/72157626720838427/with/5778636304/

 

[Sigmania]

wulfman's Pacifix LS7 Goldtop

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wulfh/sets/72157626720838427/

[img]https://i.imgur.com/sW5Wp2m.png[/img]

 

[Sigmania]

Would love to know what this is.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1856148422...ge+9Jz+WJpsbAkwER5utiW6920Di|tkp:BFBMnrTh9_pg